Determined hawk halts flow of mail in Calgary

A wealthy suburb of Calgary is without mail service, after a hawk repeatedly dive-bombed its letter carrier, even breaking a helmet she wore to protect herself.

Residents of over 150 homes will have to pick up their mail at a local depot until the hawk makes its annual migration to Argentina.

The attacks began in June, but the carrier continued delivering the mail, eventually donning a bicycle helmet. The hawk swooped with so much force, it broke the helmet.

“Obviously it would have caused major injury if she hadn’t been wearing it,” said Teresa Williams, a spokeswoman for Canada Post.

The letter carrier did not sustain any injuries. “I don’t believe it has sunk its talons into her skin,” Ms. Williams said. “Just the emotional trauma.”

Neighbours believe the ornery bird, a Swainson’s hawk with two fledglings, has singled out the carrier as a threat to its young.

“It doesn’t bother anybody else in the neighbourhood. Only the letter carrier,” said Kathryn Chan, whose property line almost touches the tree.

A provincial fish and wildlife officer who came to review the situation suggested the hawk likely recognized the carrier’s face, and residents think her atypical movements might also play a part.

“She’s sort of moving fast and darting from home to home,” Ms. Chan speculated.

Area residents are able to go about their business, gardening and walking their dogs.

Ms. Williams said most people wrongly believe aggressive dogs pose the only serious danger to postal workers.

“When you’re standing outside on a beautiful day like this thinking, ‘Oh man I’d love to be a letter carrier,’ remember: Even on a beautiful day it can be hazardous,” Ms. Williams advised.

Birds are a common problem. Just last month, mail delivery was suspended to residents on four blocks in Moose Jaw, Sask., after hawks persisted in daily aerial attacks, prompting a government spokesman to suggest residents protect themselves with umbrellas.

Some residents are angry that Canada Post has suspended delivery for much of the neighbourhood when the hawk is only targeting one part of it.

But Canada Post says it has to put the safety of its employees first. Removing the birds is out of the question, Ms. Williams said.

“We have to let nature take its course. Hawks are a protected species, so we can’t move the nest. We can’t just shoo them away. They have a right to be there.”

That might mean waiting a few more weeks until the birds leave their nests. “They’ve got to teach their young to fly, and once they’re strong enough they will leave and head south,” Ms. Williams said.